AN: Now that this story is completed in time for Christmas I need to finish "Finding Love At Christmas" and go back to my other forgotten stories. I am flattered by the requests for this to continue, both those who just want a Jack story and those because they are enjoying Avery. However, this was the plan for the story. I think this chapter wraps the Wishing Tree theme up with a nice little bow. A pet peeve of mine is run-on stories on fanfiction - stories that feel like they end but then the author just keeps going. I am not going to do that with this one. However, I will not rule out revisiting this "universe" again. Perhaps as Nathan and Avery summer wedding?
Merry Christmas to all who read, favorited, and/or commented on this story. I appreciate all of you. Thank you to FnficJunkie for betaing the first nine chapters of the story (I didn't bother her on Christmas with this chapter so I hope I got the more glaring typos myself). Thank you Katie for your 'choice' of pairings that I decided to try to get as many as I could, because I probably never would have written Jack/Elizabeth if you hadn't and I got to admit, I kind of had fun with having Jack as a character. I hope you enjoyed your "Christmas story" and it is fluffy enough for you!
Twas the night before Christmas, and New Hope Orphanage was mostly quiet. The only light was from the oil lamps in the sitting room as Lillian, Grace and Gabriel finished wrapping gifts for the children. Eleanor, the housekeeper that had been with Lillian's family since before Lillian was adopted, had already retired for the night. She planned on being up early in the morning to start cooking.
Eleanor had stayed at the house during Lillian's search for Grace. Now that Lillian and Grace were back and setting up the orphanage, Eleanor had asked to help them with the endeavor. Lillian had hugged the older woman gratefully. Eleanor had been a part of her life for so long, she couldn't imagine not having her nearby.
"I think that is the last one," Grace said, as she placed the train set for Vincent 'from Santa', under the tree. Lee had wanted to remain anonymous.
Lillian leaned against Gabriel whom she was sitting next to, on the floor. "Good, because I am exhausted."
"With good reason," Gabriel said, kissing the top of his wife's hair. "You, Grace and Eleanor have been working nonstop to get everyone settled in and everything festive for tomorrow after two days of traveling."
"It has been busy," Lillian lamented. "It was good of you to take the kids out for the tree today."
"The joy on their faces as they debated which tree to actually have me cut down was well worth it," Gabriel replied.
"At least with the help from friends and neighbors we did manage some sleep last night," Grace said. "You and Gabriel have a cozy little spot to give you some privacy out in the cottage. The kids are going to have a feast tomorrow, and presents to open. There was a nice supply of firewood waiting for us, and the children got to meet their future schoolmates when the teacher brought the kids out caroling," Grace said.
Lillian thought back to their arrival of the day before. The sun had been setting, and she was thankful that Eleanor was already at the house so that it would be warm for their arrival. Still, the older woman could not be expected to chop wood and while Joe had promised to keep enough for her needs while Lillian was gone, Lillian knew more wood would be needed to warm the whole house. She had expected Gabriel to be out in the dark after their long trip, chopping wood to make sure they had enough for the night.
It turned out that she didn't need to worry. Several townsfolk had greeted her as they drove through town. There were some curious looks as well but Lillian had pushed them aside. She was sure the town she had grown up in would welcome the orphans with a little time. She had missed seeing Joe's welcoming face though and wondered at the store owner's absence.
As it turned out, Joe had been waiting at the orphanage for them, along with Chuck and several ranch hands from the Stewart ranch. Joe had helped Eleanor prepare dinner for the group while Chuck and the ranch hands had managed to stack a generous supply of wood both outside the main house's kitchen door and the door to the cottage. At Lillian's curious look toward the wood pile by the cottage, Joe had explained that he had recruited help to clear-out and fix up the cottage so that Lillian and Gabriel would have a little privacy. He had also introduced a new comer to Brookfield, Sam Trembley, who was a prospector and sometimes handy man. Sam had shook hands with them all, letting them know that if they needed any help with repairs his services would be available if he wasn't out on his claim. "I am staying in a room at Hansen's store," Sam had told him. He gave Gabriel a crooked smile and added, "Joe already asked the Mounties in Clearwater to do a background check, so you don't have to."
Joe had shrug and Gabriel had laughed, though it had been exactly what he had intended to do before letting the man do any more work at the orphanage. Gabriel had then told Sam if he wanted a bit more room for living accommodations that he would be welcome to stay in the apartment behind the Mounted Police Office as he wouldn't be using it. Sam had thanked him and planned on taking him up on the offer.
"It has been a nice welcome home," Lillian agreed. "I hope the two of you learn to love Brookfield like I have."
"I know I will," Gabriel replied.
"I am near my sister, and am providing a loving home to children who have a similar childhood to my own. I couldn't ask, for much more than that," Grace replied.
"Accept maybe more time with Chuck," Lillian teased.
Grace blushed.
"He asked about you, by the way," Gabriel told her. "Wanted to know if there was anyone special in your life. I told him just your sister and the orphans."
"You're teasing me, "Grace accused.
Gabriel put his hands over his heart, feigning being wounded. "I do tease a lot, but I would never tease a lady about matters of the heart," he told her sincerely.
Grace blushed a deeper red. "We should probably call it a night. The children are going to be up early for sure."
"I am surprised you got them to bed at all," Gabriel commented. "When I was a kid, I use to sit at the window watching to catch a glimpse of Santa."
"How did that end?" Lillian asked.
"I fell asleep at the window and my Dad tucked me into bed," Gabriel replied.
Grace and Lillian laughed. "I may have told them a story about a brother and sister who didn't get any Christmas gifts on Christmas because they didn't go to sleep and Santa skipped over their house. There wasn't much complaining after that!"
"I bet not," Gabriel replied, as he got to his feet. Holding a hand out to each sister, he helped pull both of them to their feet.
"Are you sure you are okay with being alone at night with the children?" Lillian asked, just like she had the night before.
Grace laughed. "You are a few hundred feet away if I need you," she told her sister. "And I have Eleanor sleeping downstairs. I am fine. You and Gabriel deserve a space of your own."
Lillian nodded and then hugged her sister. "Merry Christmas, Grace," she said, her voice breaking as she realized how long it had been since she could say those words to her sister.
"Merry Christmas, sis," Grace replied.
The sisters held onto each other for a few minutes. Gabriel did not rush them, knowing the significance of this moment. When Lillian finally did let go of Grace, Gabriel stepped forward to embrace his sister-in-law and wish her a Merry Christmas. Then he and Lillian donned their outer garments to make the short walk from the main house to their cottage. Grace saw them to the door, wrapping a shawl around her shoulders against the cold.
Hand-in-hand, Lillian and Gabriel walked across the snowy yard, the moonlight twinkling on the pristine snow. Reaching the cottage, Gabriel opened the door for Lillian. Before passing through though, Lillian turned to wave one last time to Grace who she knew would still be standing at the door. Offering his own wave, Gabriel stepped inside, pulling the door shut behind him.
Gabriel had come over earlier to start a fire in both the stoves, warming their home up for their return. The men might have cleaned and fixed the two-room cottage up, but Eleanor had come in after them to add cozy touches to the simply furnished cottage. Curtains had been hung in all the windows, a tablecloth that had been Lillian's adoptive mother's, covered the small round table, and several throw rugs were scattered about. A photograph of Lillian and her adoptive parents had been put out, to which Lillian had added one of Grace and herself taken before they were separated. Gabriel had put up the few of his family, which he carried him. To those, had been added two from the wedding that Jack had framed for them before they had left.
Hanging his scarf up on the same hook as his coat, Gabriel reached out and pulled Lillian close to him. "Merry Christmas, my love," he told her.
"Merry Christmas," Lillian returned, before her husband pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Lillian returned the gesture as she pressed her body against his.
It was turning out to be a Merry Christmas indeed. One of hopefully many.
With his adoptive daughter in his arms, Lee followed his wife downstairs on Christmas morning. Despite their attempts to get Holly excited about the holiday, the significance of the day seemed not to have sunk in. Holly had slept to her usual time. In a way, Lee had enjoyed that as it had given him and Rosie some time to simply enjoy being with each other before starting their day.
Now though, all three Coulters were dressed and ready for the day. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Lee placed Holly down on the ground, facing the Christmas tree.
"Look at those gifts under the tree, Holly!" Rosemary said, excitedly. "It looks like Santa came to visit."
"Would you like to go see what Santa brought you, Holly?" Lee asked the girl.
Holly looked up at him with the faintest of smiles and nodded. As Rosemary had sat down on the floor in front of the tree, she beckoned to the little girl. Holly hurried forward and settled in her mother's lap. Following, Lee sat on the floor nearby. He reached for the box that he knew contained a new doll.
"Here is one that says from Santa, to Holly," Lee said, holding it out to the girl. "Want to open it?"
Holly nodded and reached for the box. With a little help from Rosemary, Holly tore the wrapping away. She stared at the doll for a few moments and then hugged it tight.
"I think she likes it," Rosemary said.
"I would say so," Lee echoed, happy to see the girl's reaction.
When Holly let go of the doll, she unwrapped a new dress that Rosemary had picked out, and a pretty headband. The girl giggled when Rosemary put the headband on Holly's head. When the girl unwrapped the gift from Lillian, Grace and Gabriel her eyes lit up and she hugged the stuff cat close. Lee and Rosemary exchanged looks, knowing that they had chosen correctly with the gift they were given Holly from them.
"Does the cat have a name, Holly?"
"Lil'an" Holly said.
"Yes, it is from Miss Lillian and Miss Grace," Rosemary said, thinking that was what the girl meant. "But are you going to give the cat a name."
"Lil'an" Holly repeated, telling Lee and Rosemary that she wanted to name the cat after the woman who had taken her in after her mother died.
"That is a sweet name," Rosemary told her. "I think you have one more gift, Holly. This one is from Mama and Papa," she said as Lee reached for the deep crate with no lid that had been placed under the tree after Holly had gone to sleep last night.
"Look inside the crate, Holly," Lee instructed pushing the crate close to his wife and daughter.
Holly peered over the edge. Again a huge smile lit up her face. Inside the crate was a little tortoise shell kitten with a red bow tied loosely around its neck. Having been awakened by the moving of the crate, the kitten peered up at them and let out a pleading mew.
"Kitty!" Holly exclaimed getting up from Rosemary's lap as she reached for the kitten.
"Be gentle with her," Lee cautioned.
Holly nodded, immediately holding the kitten close to her once she was clear of the crate. She sat back down in Rosemary's lap, gently stroking the kitten who was loving the attention.
"This kitty needs a name as well, Holly," Lee suggested.
"Grace," Holly replied, causing Rosemary and Lee to chuckle. They may have given the girl a permanent home, but it was clear that in the short time she was with them, Lillian and Grace had become important to Holly as well.
"It's a beautiful name," Lee told his daughter, knowing that Rosemary was going to delight in writing to Lillian and Grace to tell them the news. Then, perhaps in the spring, they could make a trip to Brookfield so Holly could visit with them and he and Rosemary could see the town Lillian had called home a good portion of her life.
Father and daughter walked side-by-side as they headed back from the pond to their row house. Jack had made a hole in the ice for them that morning, Jack informing Nathan that he did not want to have to fish Nathan out of the pond. As he was trying to get more gracious about accepting the help that he did need, Nathan had simply thanked him for taking care of the task.
"You may have got the bigger fish, Dad," Allie said, emphasizing the title. "However, I think I won this year. I got a family for Christmas. I get a dad right now, and a second mother this summer. This is the best Christmas ever."
"You are definitely right about that, Allie," Nathan told his girl, holding tightly to the little hand holding onto his. The three fish they had caught dangled from the cane the rope they were on were looped around while Allie carried both of their poles.
"Is this what Christmas Magic feels like?" Allie asked looking up at him.
"Yes," Nathan said, thinking of all that had taken place the last couple of weeks. "This has been the perfect example of Christmas magic."
"Do we have time to stop by to see Uncle Jack?" Allie asked. "I want to tell him he was right and I believe in the Wishing Tree. My wish did come true. I hope his does as well."
"Me too," Nathan told her. "And yes, we can stop by Uncle Jack's briefly on the way home."
The rest of the walk was silent but soon they were standing in front of the row house Jack and Elizabeth shared. Letting go of Nathan's hand, Allie hurried up the stairs to knock on the door. When Jack opened the door, Nathan saw the briefest look of annoyance on Jack's face that Nathan knew well. A knock on the door of a Mountie's house on a holiday often meant a disruption of the celebration with family. The look soon melted away when he saw Allie.
"Merry Christmas, Allie! It is good to see you," Jack said. "I see the fishing was successful."
Allie nodded. "I caught the two smaller ones, but technically Dad won because his fish is the biggest."
Jack winked at her. "Sometimes you need to let the old man win."
Allie giggled. "I guess so," she said. "I just wanted to thank you for convincing me to hang my wish, Uncle Jack. It came true. Uncle Nathan is adopting me and becoming my Dad. When he marries Miss Avery, I will get a second Mom as well."
Jack beamed. "I am so happy for you, Allie," he told her, hugging her carefully because of the fishing poles she still held.
"Is your wish coming true?" Allie asked stepping back.
"So, far," Jack told her.
"Good," Allie replied. "We need to get back to the house. Avery and Abigail were cooking dinner for Dad, Cody, Judge Avery and me and now Dad has to fry the fish."
"All right. You enjoy dinner with your family."
Allie beamed. "I have always wanted a family Christmas dinner. Getting it, this year is icing on the cake."
"The icing is the best part," Jack replied. He looked up at Nathan. The two exchanged greetings before Nathan heading down the line of row houses to the one, he shared with Allie.
The smell of baked ham, biscuits, and sweet potatoes greeted them when they stepped into the house.
"Look what we caught, Miss Avery," Allie announced, motioning to the fish Nathan held up.
"Very nice, Allie. Who caught the biggest one this year?"
"Dad. I'll catch a bigger one next year," Allie replied.
"I accept that challenge," Nathan joked with his daughter as Abigail came to collect the fish from him so he could take off his outer garments. "I'll get them fried up. The rest of dinner smells great."
"Whoever heard of fried fish for Christmas dinner," Bill muttered as he sat on the settee. Cody sat across from him, with a checker board on the coffee table between them.
On her way back to the kitchen with the fish, Abigail leaned over the back of the settee and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Don't pout just because you over cook fish every time," she told him lightly.
"I do not," Bill countered.
"Yes, you do Judge Avery," Cody offered, causing Abigail to laugh and Bill to frown across the coffee table at the lad.
"I believe it is your turn," Bill told the boy.
Cody smiled but turned his attention to the checker board.
"If you don't want any fish, Bill, it just means more for me," Nathan told his friend lightly as he headed for the kitchen himself.
"Dad makes the best friend fish," Allie informed Bill as she sat down on the settee next to him.
"He does, does he?"
Allie nodded.
"I suppose if I am going to be a part of this family, I need to embrace new traditions," Bill consented.
Allie put her arms around him as she hugged him from the side. Quickly getting over his surprise, Bill wrapped an arm around the girl.
Getting ready to prepare the fish for frying, Nathan took a moment to take in the sight. He then let his gaze fall on Abigail and Avery. Christmas seemed a little more special with more family to share it with.
Darkness had fallen. Two oil lamps lit the first floor of the Thornton row house as Jack and Elizabeth sat beside each other on the settee. Elizabeth held a sleeping Jarrick in her arms, and Jack had an arm around his wife's shoulders. The faint sound of Rosemary's piano playing from next door could be heard in the quiet of Christmas night.
It had been a quiet day. Other than creating a fishing hole for Nathan and Allie, Jack had not left the house. He, Elizabeth and Avery had exchanged gifts that morning. Despite his early arrival, Jack had still bought Jarrick a stuffed teddy bear for his first Christmas. Avery had eaten breakfast with them before heading to Nathan's home to share Christmas with Nathan, Allie, Abigail, Bill and Cody.
In between feedings for Jarrick, Elizabeth had helped him prepare their Christmas supper. It was a quiet dinner for two, though Jarrick had insisted on being held during it, fussing whenever they attempted to put him in the cradle. As he had been a quiet baby for the most part, Jack found him feeling for a fever several times. Thankfully, his son didn't feel warm to the touch. Elizabeth told him that their son just wanted to be apart of the festivities.
Other than Allie's knock, no one else came knocking on the door, for which Jack was thankful. After dinner, he had banished Elizabeth from the kitchen and did the clean up. With the dishes washed and put away, he had sunk down onto the settee, happy to be able to just enjoy a quiet evening at home. When he put his feet up on the coffee table, part of him waited for Elizabeth to scold him. Instead, she had simply rose from the rocking chair and sat down next to him on the settee. She had then put her feet up beside his.
They had sat quietly for a few moments, relishing the quiet, and then idle chat had started between them. Glancing at the clock on the mantle, Jack saw that it was nearing eight o'clock.
"I can't believe I actually got my wish to spend a peaceful day at home with my family. Perhaps that tree really is magical," Jack commented. Beside him, Elizabeth let out a little giggle. "What?" Jack asked her.
Elizabeth looked up at him. "Bill has spent the last couple of days informing everyone that if they knocked on our door today he would personally figure out some minor offense to charge them within the next couple of days. He said that you deserved one day of peace and that if any true emergencies came up they should find him."
"Thank you, Bill," Jack said, smiling at his friend's threat. Jack knew that no one would test the man out on that threat.
"I will second that," Elizabeth said, resting her head on his shoulder. "At least this year I can enjoy spending time with you knowing that you do not have to leave to go off to fight some battle. The fight up in the Northern Territories ruined some of the joy for me last year."
"That is behind us," Jack assured her. "Yes, I have to leave you for work tomorrow, but I won't be far. I may even stop in and say hi a time or two, just because I can."
"Those little visits are the highlights of my day," Elizabeth told him turning her head and tilting it back as an invitation for Jack to kiss her.
It was an invitation that Jack did not pass up. Yes, the Wishing Tree had the help of the people of Hope Valley but its tradition of granting Christmas wishes was still going strong.